Postage Stamps

A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that you stick on a letter. It shows the post office that you paid to mail the letter. The first stamp was made in England in 1840. Stamps often have pretty pictures on them.

The First Stamp

The very first postage stamp was called the Penny Black. It was made in England in 1840. It cost only one penny and had a picture of Queen Victoria. Before stamps, the person getting the letter had to pay. Stamps made it easier for everyone to send mail.

Fun to Collect

Many people love to collect stamps as a hobby. This is called philately. Stamps come in many colors and shapes. Some show animals, flowers, or famous people. Rare stamps can be worth a lot of money.

Fun Facts

• The Penny Black was the first postage stamp, made in 1840.
• Stamp collecting is one of the most popular hobbies in the world.
• Some stamps are shaped like circles, triangles, or even hearts.

Did You Know?

One rare stamp from Sweden called the Treskilling Yellow sold for millions of dollars because it was printed the wrong color.